Meter Clock Goes for Timeless Look

Geeky projects are often over-complicated and messy, especially electronic ones, but Digital-DIY member AndyO managed to make an elegant but still quite geeky clock, taking inspiration from analog VU meters.

The clock is controlled by a PIC18F2550 microchip, which handles the two servos that control the hour and minute needles. AndyO drew up the beautiful clock face using DesignCAD, then printed it on matte photo paper and mounted it on acrylic. The clock’s case is laminated mystery wood. AndyO honestly doesn’t know what wood he used, but he thinks it might be spruce. The three buttons on top of the clock handle a couple of functions, mostly setting an alarm and toggling the front lamps.

The only thing I don’t like about AndyO’s clock is that it needs to connect to a PC to sync the time as well as control other settings, hence the USB connection at the back. It’s basically a beautiful but brainless clock, relying on a custom program that AndyO also made to adjust the clock’s settings. AndyO didn’t mention if the clock has to be connected to a PC at all times, but I’m assuming that that’s the case since he says the clock constantly communicates with the PC to make sure the time is correct.. I’m pretty sure some enterprising individual will copy the look of the meter clock and make a pretty penny out of it, but if your DIY skills are up to par with AndyO’s, you can check out Digital DIY for the full how-to.